A fresh paint and a handful of exclusive features help bring life to the CTS V-Sport

Cadillac has a new special edition for the CTS V-Sport. It’s called the Morello Red Edition, and it’s loaded with a new appearance package that brings new life to Caddy’s lesser-known sports sedan. As it is, the CTS V-Sport often has to take a back seat to the considerably more potent CTS-V. That’s a reality it has to deal with it. The Morello Red Edition aims to change that, and by accounts of what it has going for it, there’s enough exclusivity in the special edition sedan to flip that narrative, at least if you know where to look.

What makes the Morello Red Package spacial

Morello Red is actually the highlight of the interior trim package, not the actual color of the car

The first thing we need to talk about is the name. The Cadillac CTS V-Sport gets the Morello Red Edition name by virtue of the infusion of red to the sedan’s interior. Yes, Morello Red is actually the highlight of the interior trim package, not the actual color of the car. Even more confusing, Cadillac is actually offering the red-trim package on a specific CTS V-Sports, specifically those that feature Black Raven, Phantom Gray Metallic, Satin Steel Metallic, and Crystal White Tricoat exterior colors. To be clear, there’s no mention of “red” in any one of those choices. Confused? You’re not alone.

To be fair, Cadillac’s strategy does have some merit to it. There’s something to be said for flipping tradition and using the special edition treatment in the section of the car where owners can really appreciate them when they’re driving. That’s what we have with the CTS V-Sport Morello Red Edition as the interior gets a good amount of exclusive features, including black Recaro seats with red contrast stitching, red armrests on the front and rear doors, and splashes of glossy red carbon fiber trim throughout the cabin.

The CTS V-Sport Morello Red Edition as the interior gets a good amount of exclusive features, including black Recaro seats with red contrast stitching

The exterior does get a black chrome-accented grille and a gloss black side window trim. The CTS V-Sport’s base spoiler is also included in the special edition model.

Additionally, CTS V-Sport and CTS V-Sport Premium Luxury versions also get a Performance Exhaust and Engine Cover Package that includes a cutback exhaust system and a red-painted engine cover.

As a whole, the Cadillac CTS V-Sport Morello Red Edition is a different interpretation of what a special edition Caddy should be. Look past the unconventional way Cadillac went about it, and you’ll find enough endearing things about the SE Caddy to justify its status.